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Researching the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada
  Recherche sur la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg Lieu historique national du Canada

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Report 98-87

THE BUILT HISTORY OF RUE DU PETIT ETANG 
(RUE DE REMPART) 
AND SELECTED ADJACENT FEATURES
AT LOUISBOURG, ISLE ROYALE, 1713-1768

BY ERIC KRAUSE

(KRAUSE HOUSE INFO-RESEARCH SOLUTIONS)

MAY 11, 1998


VOLUME ONE: NARRATIVE REPORT (1713-1768)


PART ONE

INTERPRETATION OF BUILT HISTORY EVENTS: 
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS (1713 - 1768)


(01) GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

(01) The wealth of maps and plans illustrating the area in question is both enlightening and confusing. However, some appear more generally accurate than others and have been identified as being key to an understanding of actual construction activity in the research footprint. Yet even here, in detail, they often provided conflicting information which perhaps only archaeology will someday resolve.

(02) The key Louisbourg maps and plans for determining what features may have stood within the research footprint are:

(a) Rue de Rempart (Rue du Petit Etang) (1713-1768): See items (b) - (g) below.

(b) First Lartigue Complex Property and First Lartigue Complex (1714-1734): Louisbourg Map Collection 1731-3; ND-105; 1734-4; and 1735-7 together with 1725-9 with its misplaced Block One western boundary.

(c) Dardy Building and Property(1721-circa 1731): Louisbourg Map Collection 1725-9 (misplaced Block One western boundary).

(d) Lartigue New House Property (1734-1768): Louisbourg Map Collection ND-105; 1734-4; 1735-7; 1746-8; 1746-8a; 1753-1; 1767-1.

(e) Fautoux Property (1743-1746): Louisbourg Map Collection 1745-17 (See also: 1758-20); 1745-19; 1746-13 (See also: 1757-12).

(f) First Lartigue Complex (1734-1746): Louisbourg Map Collection 1745-17 (See also: 1758-20); 1745-24; 1746-2; 1746-3; 1746-13 (See also: 1757-12).

(g) New England Complex (1746-1768): Louisbourg Map Collection 1746-8; 1746-8a; 1753-1; 1757-8; 1758-6; 1758-9; 1767-1.


(02) RUE DE REMPART

(1714-1734)

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

(01) This street was positioned to the "west" of Block One.

(02) Early plans sometimes illustrated it as laying further "west" than its final determination in 1731 (construction date of the boulangerie).

(03) To the "south" and "west" of the Dardy house, the land rose quickly. Street excavations in 1733 at the corner of Rue Royalle and Rue du Petit Etang, directly opposite the street facing walls of the boulangerie, may have obliterated any evidence of the Dardy building and property.

(04) In June, 1734, the street was officially declared.

PARTICULAR OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOOTPRINT

(01) Impact of the First Lartigue Complex Property (1714-1734):

(a) A portion of the "south-east" garden.

(02) Impact of the First Lartigue Complex (1714-1734):

(a) A portion of the "south-west" building complex.

(03) Impact of the Dardy Property (1721-circa 1731):

(a) A building and, possibly, a small adjoining property.

(04) Impact of Block One (1713-1734):

(a) Boundary or survey markers.

(05) Impact of Geography (1713-1734):

(a) A stream running "north" down the middle of the street, from the corner of Rue Royalle and Rue du Petit Etang to approximately the half-way mark, where, turning "north-west," to exit the immediate area.


(03) FIRST LARTIGUE COMPLEX PROPERTY

(1714-1734)
  

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

(01) The property was positioned straddling the "north-west" boundary of Block One.

(02) This area was the habitation portion of Lartigue's two 1717 parcels of confirmed land.

PARTICULAR OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOOTPRINT

(01) Impact of the "south-east" Garden:

(a) Traditional perimeter-property piquet fencing.

(b) Garden beds.

(c) Garden bordering.


(04) FIRST LARTIGUE COMPLEX

(1714-1734)

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

(01) The buildings were positioned straddling the "north-west" boundary of Block One.

(02) General construction activity on this habitation property, for the period circa 1714-1734 seems quite straight-forward, despite the fact that the maps and plans sometimes disagreed in detail. Initially, whether by design or accident, Lartigue, through additions, would build two major complexes (with ultimately 3, or more, sub-units each) parallel to each other, with ancillary structures, to the side or in-between. Of this complex, its "south-west" portion may have left remnants in the Rue du Petit Etang.

PARTICULAR OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOOTPRINT

(01) Impact of the King's Workers' Lodging (circa 1714-1720):

(a) Described as old, when but three or four years of age at the most, this building was possibly more primitive and less durable than even the 1713-1714 buildings of Block Four and vicinity, some of which lasted to the first siege. Whether or not incorporated into the "south-west" portion of the First Lartigue Complex, or if it stood somewhat further "south," it probably disappeared by 1720.

(02) Impact of the First Lartigue Complex:

(a) Perimeter walls: Of piquet construction with supporting exterior wall struts.

(b) Building Width: Approximately 24-25 pieds.

(c) Cross walls: Of piquet construction.

(d) Roofs: Board.

(e) Building Use: The truncated structures, being houses, would have exhibited all the attributes of such, including fireplace-bases.

(f) Attached storm porches and/or outbuildings (which were, no doubt, also of piquet construction): No evidence as having existed in the footprint area.

(03) Impact of a new construction, perhaps located within the truncated "south-west" portion of the First Lartigue Complex: Prior to June, 1734, Lartigue had built a charpente house, which he then moved to its final location ("New House"- 1734-1768).

(a) Foundations: Masonry.


(05) DARDY BUILDING AND PROPERTY

(1721-circa 1731)

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

(01) The building and property stood "south" of the First Lartigue Complex, probably in the Rue de Petit Etang.

(02) Conceded his property in 1721, Dardy had built this structure by at least 1723, and it may have disappeared by 1731.

PARTICULAR OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOOTPRINT

(01) Impact of a building and property:

(a) Measurements: Although his concession measured 30 pieds square, the building later scaled at circa 31 x 18 pieds, leaving room for a small piece of property.

(b) Wall Type: Unknown, but piquet would not be surprising.

(c) Roof: Type: Sod.


(06) LARTIGUE NEW HOUSE PROPERTY

(1734-1768)

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

(01) The property stood to the "west" of Rue du Petit Etang.

(02) One, and possibly both, of Lartigue's 1717 parcels of confirmed land impacted upon the footprint.

(03) From the habitation grant, the "south-west" portion of the First Lartigue Complex (1714-1734) was truncated where its structures intersected the "northern" portion of Lartigue's "New House." Whether any portion once existed within the footprint to the "north" of the gable end of the new building is debatable, but a distinct possibility.

(04) From the vignaux grant, Lartigue's fish-flakes, as well as an early road/path leading to the lime kiln once located in the track of the curtain wall, may have impacted upon the area "north" of Lartigue's "New House." However, later gardens, may have obliterated evidence of these activities.

PARTICULAR OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOOTPRINT

(01) Impact of the stream: exited from the "east" unto Lartigue's property "south" of Lartigue's "New House," to pass to the "west" of the house.

(02) Impact of the pond "east" of the curtain wall: Its contour may have expanded from time-to-time prior to and/or after being partially back-filled.

(03) Impact of gardens (and perimeter fencing): Located to the "north" of Lartigue's "New House," with some even further "north," on reclaimed pond land.

(04) Impact of the New England buildings: See: New England Complex (1746-1768).

(05) Impact of traverses: Positioned to the "north" of Lartigue's "New House," and extending into the Quay, to the "east."


(07) RUE DU PETIT ETANG

(RUE DE REMPART)

(1734-1768)

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

(01) This street was positioned to the "west" of Block One.

(02) The construction of Lartigue's "New House" (1734-1768) did not result in the immediate opening of this street where it intersected the Quay (See: First Lartigue Complex (1734-1746).

(03) What the impact of the lowering of the street upon the truncated remnants of the First Lartigue Complex, its garden and fence, and upon the stream is debatable.

PARTICULAR OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOOTPRINT

(01) Impact of the "south-west" portion of the First Lartigue Complex (1714-1734): It was truncated to partially open up the intersection of the newly designated Rue du Petit Etang and Quay,

(02) Impact of the remaining First Lartigue Complex (1714-1734) structures: They continued to exist until circa 1746 (See: First Lartigue Complex (1734-1746).

(03) Impact of lowering the street: Between 1737-1738, the street was lowered, to lay 18 pouces below the ground floor level of the newly constructed Hangard d'Artillerie.

(04) Impact of a gutter: Somewhere cut in the street was a gutter.


(08) FIRST LARTIGUE COMPLEX

(1734-1746)

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

(01) The buildings were positioned straddling the "north-west" boundary of Block One.

(02) Sometime after 1734, the two remaining truncated and parallel First Lartigue Complex structures were reduced to one complex in a single line: Forming-up as either one long structure or else, in a semi-circle, consisting of two or three buildings, all of which disappeared sometime during the first English occupational period.

PARTICULAR OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOOTPRINT

(01) Impact of the two truncated First Lartigue Complex Buildings until they were reduced in scope:

(a) Their continued existence, helped to bar Quay traffic unto the Rue du Petit Etang.

(b) A fence between the two of them helped to bar Quay traffic unto the Rue du Petit Etang.

(c) A fence and gateway erected between them and Lartigue's "New House" helped to bar Quay entry to the Rue du Petit Etang.

(02) Impact of street dressings: At the Quay end of the street, within the footprint area, the New Englanders may have dressed the street with gravel, thus raising this place in the process.


(09) FAUTOUX PROPERTY

(1743 - 1746)

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

(01) The property existed "west" of Rue du Petit Etang, on property which extended from the "south" limits of the Lartigue New House Property, reaching further "south" to the glacis of the King's Bastion.

(02) The Fautoux Building may have existed for the period 1743-1746, with the following possibilities:

(a) Hit during the siege.

(b) Dismantled after the siege.

(c) Completely or partially incorporated into the New England Complex.

PARTICULAR OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOOTPRINT

(01) Impact of a building: Possibly its "south" section lay on Rue Royalle, with the remainder positioned towards the "north".


(10) NEW ENGLAND COMPLEX

(1746-1768)

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

(01) Apparently the English occupational forces constructed all of the major structures located "west" of Rue du Petit Etang, between Lartigue's "New House" and the Fautoux building (which it may have fully, or partially, incorporated).

(02) When observed as one structure, it contained at least 5 units.

(03) As a cautionary note, the 1753 Widow Lartigue plan, being poorly executed in detail, and suspect in general, is not fully summarized in this report.

PARTICULAR OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOOTPRINT

(01) "South" portion: Impact of a 1/2 timber building, raised on a masonry foundation, with possible steps and landings on the street:

(a) Two forges, one to the "south," in the last 40 pieds portion, with a yard and storehouse behind.

(b) Possibly two other yards with a long segmented storehouse of which the storehouse of (a) may have been a part.

(c) Possibly three non-piquet yard fences.

(02) Central portion: Impact of two small buildings.

(03) Central portion: Impact of masonry foundations, butting against the building to the "south," but separate from Lartigue's "New House" to the "north," raised for a 1/2 timber building, but upon which nothing was ever built.

(a) Possible outbuilding.

(b) Possible yard and garden.

(c) Piquet perimeter, and perhaps garden, fencing.

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